40 



BOOK II. 



A — Twig. B — Trench. 



men in discovering veins. With regard to deflection of branches of trees 

 they sa}' nothing and adhere to their opinion. 



Since this matter remains in dispute and causes much dissention 

 amongst miners, I consider it ought to be examined on its own merits. The 

 wizards, who also make use of rings, mirrors and crystals, seek for veins 

 with a divining rod shaped like a fork ; but its shape makes no difference 

 in the matter, — it might be straight or of some other form — for it is not 

 the form of the twig that matters, but the wizard's incantations 

 which it would not become me to repeat, neither do I wish to do so. The 

 Ancients, by means of the divining rod, not only procured those things neces- 

 sary for a hvehhood or for luxurj'', but they were also able to alter the forms 

 of things by it ; as when the magicians changed the rods of the Egyptians 

 into serpents, as the writings of the Hebrews relate^^ ; and as in Homer, 

 Minerva with a di\'ining rod turned the aged Ulysses suddenly into a youth, 

 and then restored him back again to old age ; Circe also changed Ulysses' 

 companions into beasts, but afterward gave them back again their human 

 form^^ ; moreover by his rod, which was called " Caduceus," Mercury gave 



"Exodus VII., 10, II, 12. 

 "Odyssey xvi., 172, and x., 2^8. 



